Finding Original Windows Product Key Required after Geek Squad Installed Generic Version of Windows

[Deano54]

Hi All

I am desperately trying to find out where I can locate my original Windows product key for my HP Spectre x360. Windows was reistalled twice within 6 months by Geek Squad from Best Buy and it turns out that they installed a generic version of Windows 11 onto my device.

My problem is that I upgraded to from Windows Home to Windows 11 Pro via the Microsoft store on my device, but now Windows wont activate. I am told that I have to install Windows 10 with my original product key and then install the upgrade. I cant locate my otiginal Windows Product key and that seems to be the only way I can get Windows Pro onto my device.

I think my second problem is going to be installing Pro because it doesnt come with a product key, so if anyone has advice on that too I would greatly appreciate it.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Download and install the free Showkey Plus app from the Microsoft Store and it will show you the Windows OEM product key in the BIOS and the version of Windows the key is good for.

ShowKeyPlus - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store

If you did not have a Windows Pro product key, you would have had to pay for an upgrade to W11 Pro so if you did not get a product key, there should be a record of that in your Microsoft account.

See this link from Microsoft for how to upgrade from Home to Pro.

Upgrade Windows Home to Windows Pro - Microsoft Support

[Deano54]

Thank you so much Paul.  Showkey Plus has provided me a product key and I assume its the original one that was installed on the machine when I purchased it. 

Yes I did pay for the upgrade but it upgraded on the generic version of Windows so I think what I will have to do is reinstall the original version of Windows with the original key and then somehow install the upgrade. The only issue I see is that the upgrade does provide a product key, I think its a digital key. The purchase does show in my Microsoft account.

I hope this doesnt sound like I am taking advantage but do you have a clear way of reinstalling Windows 10 RTM Core OEM:DM without losing any files or information & settings, considering I have Windows 11 Enterprise currently installed?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

Unfortunately, there is no way to reinstall any version of Windows without reinstalling your programs and files.

How did you end up with W11 Enterprise?

That is why W11 Pro won't activate.

You need to install the regular W11 Home version which will automatically work with the W10 OEM product key in the BIOS, and then you should be able to follow the Microsoft instructions for how to upgrade back to W11 Pro using your Microsoft account.

You can make a bootable W11 USB installation flash drive with the Microsoft media creation tool from the link below (2nd option).

Download Windows 11

You may also be able to use the HP cloud recovery tool if your PC is 5 or less years old to make a bootable USB recovery drive that will restore the original HP factory software image that came with your PC and then you can upgrade to W11 Pro.

Here is an info link for how to use the utility.  You will need a 32 GB USB flash drive for this.

HP Consumer PCs - Using the HP Cloud Recovery Tool in Windows 11 and 10 | HP® Support

You can download the software from the Microsoft Store.

HP Cloud Recovery Tool - Free download and install on Windows | Microsoft Store